Shoe



June 24, 1947 D. J. cALDERAzzo I 2,422,947

SHOE

Filed July 3l, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

www/0f u. mane/m22@ TOQNEY June-24, 1947. D. J. CALDERAZZQ SHOE;

' Filed July 31,1944 2 sheets-sheet 2 l lA-wio 4114 y AA fJNVENToR.

- DOM//v/CK u. Ammazza ATOQNEY Patente-d June 24, 1947 UNITED STATESPATENT GFFICE SHOE* Dominick J. Calderazzo, South Orange, N. J.Application July 31, 1944, SeriaY-No. 547,386

1 This invention relates to shoes. More particularly, the inventionpertains to an improved platform shoe and method for making the same.

In general, it is an object of the invention to provide a platform shoeof such improved construction that the same may be fabricated in a moreinexpensive manner than present-day shoes of the same type.

More specifically, it is an object of the inven- A further object of theinvention is to provide a method of the character described which may becarried out with great rapidity and is economical to practice.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which Will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope of application Will be indicated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the variouspossible embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a side View of a last with an insole disposed thereon duringan initial stage in the construction of a platform shoe embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom perspective View o-f an insole used in said shoe;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through said insole taken substantially alongthe line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a bottom perspective View of an outsole used in said shoe;

Fig. 5 is a bottom perspective view of a midsole used in said shoe;

Fig. 6 is a bottom perspective View of an outsole-midsole combination;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1 1 ofFig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View through the insole and the last during asubsequent stage in the con-V struction of my improved shoe.

Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. 1 of the shoe after the upper has beenmounted on the last;

a claims. (o1. 12.2.1421

Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line ds-.Hl ofFig. 9:

Fig. l1 is an exploded View of the elements of a lasted complete 5h08;

, Fig. 13 is a side view of the shoe during a levelling operation;

Fig. 131s a fragmentary longitudinal central section through thecompleted shoe; and

Fig. ll is a sectional View taken substantially alone the line 14W ofFig. .13j

Referring now to the drawings, L denotes a last of standard constructionon which the various component elements of the shoe are assembled.Initially. I mount the insole I2. on the last, temporarity securing thesame thereto in conventional fashion by tasks (not shown). Said insolemay be of any suitable construction comprising, by Way of example, adouble thickness of paper H of proper 'contour having its edges coveredby an ornamental binding it stitched thereto.

The outsole I8 may be made from any conventional Wearing material. Theproper configuration is imparted to the outsole in any manm ner Wellknown to the art.

The midsole 20 comprises a thick layer 22 of a cushioning substance,such as felt, whose edges are covered by an ornamental binding 24secured tothe midsole bye line oi stitching 26.

Before assembly in the shoeproper, the outsole is placed on the midsoleand its edges registered with the underlying edges of the midsole.Thereupon the outsole and midsole are permanently secured together by aline of through-andthrough stitching 28 extending around theirpelinheries to form a midsole-outsole combination which is handled andassembled in the shoe'as a unit at a subsequent stage. This useofstitching rather than adhesive prevents the outsole from Working loosereadily.

The upper 39. which may be of any conventional construction. is attachedto the insole I2 while the latter is mounted on the last. This isaccom.- nlished by applying a laver 32 (Fig. 8) of adhesive over theexposed undersurface of the insole and forcing the edges of the upperagainst said layer in a manner Well known to the art. The tacks whichsecure the insole to the lastr may be removed after the upper is nrmlyattached and other tacks (not shown) driven through the turned in edgesof the upper and the insole. The exposed inturned edges of the upper arenow coated also with a layer It of adhesive (Fig. 10).

l next dispose a heel wedge 36 on the heel of the insole with its edgesin registration with the insole edges. ISaid heel Wedge comprises 'abloot;`

38 of rigid material, such as wood, whose peripheral contour correspondsto that of the heel and shank sections of the shoe. The wedge tapers inthickness from rear to front to provide the usual inclination to theheel and shank portions of the shoe after the shoe is completed. 'I'hisinclination is rather slight in the embodiment of the invention hereinshown. However, it will be understood that the same may be changed toconform to any style.

Likewise, the configuration of the shank portion 40 of the heel wedgemay be varied at will depending upon the desired elevational contour ofthe completed shoe. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, bothfaces of the shank are inclined. This provides the necessary inclinationbeneath the instep of the foot and also imparts a concave or archedexternal outline to the shoe at the shank. It will be appreciated,however, that the bottom surface of the shank portion 40 may also be aplane continuation of the bottom surface of the heel portion 3'6, and inthis case the outsole will have no arch in the vicinity of the instep ofthe shoe.

Before placing the heel wedge on the heel of the insole, the same may becovered with an ornamental material 42 secured thereto in a suitablemanner as, for example, with adhesive. Also, the upper surface of theheel wedge, including the inturned edges of the ornamental covering 42,may have adhesive applied thereto so as to better secure the heel wedgeto the insole.

Next, the bottom surface of the heel wedge and ornamental covering havea layer of adhesive 44 applied thereto. Adhesive is likewise applied tothe exposed surface of the midsole in the midsole-outsole combination,and this sub-assembly is placed over the partially fabricated shoe onthe last with its peripheral edges in registry with the elements of theshoe already assembled.

Pressure may be manually applied to the midsole-outsole combination totemporarily retain the same in place, and the last is then transferredto a levelling machine whose pressure platen 46 has a contour negativelymatching the desired contour of the bottom surface of the shoe. Thisforces the shoe to assume the ultimate desired elevational configurationand rmly presses the midsole-outsole combination against the heel,insole and upper, thus allowing the adhesive to eifect a secure junctionbetween the elements of the shoe.

The shoe is now stripped from the last and the points of the tacks whichwere driven through in the upper are turned. The shoe is finished byglueing a sock lining 48 over the exposed surface of the insole.

Attention is directed to the ease with which the shoe can be assembledin accordance with the foregoing process, and particularly to the factthat the midsole and outsole are stitched together around their entireperipheral contour, the heel wedge being disposed between the midsoleand upper or insole so as not to interfere with the attachment of themidsole to the outsole.

It will also be appreciated that the foregoing construction enables themidsole to be of a minimum length and thus aids in the conservation ofshoe material and further reduces the cost of the shoe.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a shoe and method for makingthe same in which the several objects of this invention are achieved,and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth,it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. A process of fabricating a platform shoe comprising temporarilyattaching an insole to a last, placing an upper on said last, overlyingthe edges of said upper over edge portions of said insole and adhesivelysecuring the same thereto,

adhesively securing the upper surface of a heel wedge having heel andshank portions to the heel and shank portions of said upper and insole,arranging a midsole having heel, shank and fore portions directly uponan outsole having heel, shank and foreportions and sewing said midsoleand outsole together around their entire periphcries withthrough-and-through stitching, adhesively securing the foreportions ofsaid midsole to the foreportion of said upper and insole, adhesivelysecuring the heel and shank portions of said midsole to the heel andshank portions of said heel wedge, levelling said shoe, and strippingthe same from the last.

2. A process of fabricating a platform shoe comprising the steps ofmaking an upper-insole combination on a last, including attaching to thelast an insole having heel, shank and foreportions, placing an upper onsaid last, overlying the edges of said upper over edge portions of saidinsole and adhesively securing said upper edge portions to said insoleedge portion, adhesively securing the upper surface of a heel wedgehaving heel and shank portions to the heel and shank portions of saidupper-insole combination, preparing a midsole-outsole combination bydirectly superimposing on an outsole having heel, shank andforeportions, a midsole having heel, shank and foreportions and securingsaid midsole to said outsole by sewing a line of through-andthroughstitching around the entire peripheries of said midsole and outsole,securing said midsole-outsole combination to said heel wedge and saidupper-insole combination by adhesively attaching the heel and shankportions of said midsole-outsole combination to the bottom surface ofsaid heel wedge and adhesively attaching the foreportion of saidmidsole-outsole combination to the foreportion of said upper-insolecombination.

3. A process of fabricating a platform shoe comprising placing on a lastan insole having heel, shank and foreportions, placing an upper on saidlast, overlaying the edges of said upper over edge portions of saidinsole, securing said upper edge portions to said insole edge portions,securing a heel wedge, including heel and shank portions, to the heeland shank portions of said upper and insole, providing a midsole-outsolecombination with an outsole having heel, shank and foreportions and amidsole having heel, shank and foreportions secured together aroundtheir peripheries, securing the heel and shank portions of saidmidsole-outsole combination to said heel wedge, securing the foreportionof said midsole-outsole combination to the foreportion of said upper andinsole, and then stripping the shoe from said last.

DOM'IN'ICK J. CALDERAZZO.

(References on following page) REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date Laycock Feb. 21, 1882 Braselton Feb. 13, 1923 Bell June26, 1928 Simonvitz Dec. 13, 1932 Game Aug. 15, 1933 Bckford Feb. 23,1937 Bradbury Aug. 30, 1938 Number Number Name Date Joyce May 7, 1940Butler June 23, 1937 Braun Dec. 8, 1942 Turner June 15, 1943 Dunbar Nov.21, 1939 Greider Jan. 17, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date GreatBritain Apr. 17, 1924 Great Britain June 5, 1930 Great Britain Dec. 7,1933

